The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Wednesday that vouchers worth $2.69 million--including a $1-million grand prize--have been mailed to more than 540,000 racing fans as part of this week's NTRA Mystery Mutuel Voucher promotion.

Ballingarry, well known at Arlington Park because of his two wins in the Stars and Stripes Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IIIT) there, will start as the highweight in Saturday's Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT).

The Sidney Port Trust's Toasted, winner of the Arlington Classic (gr. IIT) in his last start, drew the inside post in a field of eight for the $250,000 American Derby (gr. IIT), one of three graded stakes on "Million Preview Day" July 24 at Arlington Park.

Ballingarry, a 5-year-old horse who has earned more than $1.5 million in his career, returns to Arlington Park July 4 to defend his title in the $200,000 Stars and Stripes Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) at 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

The 2002 Illinois Horse of the Year and grade II stakes winner Mystery Giver is among 60 horses entered in the six stakes that make up the June 26 Prairie State Festival at Arlington Park. Each of the six stakes for Illinois-breds carries a purse of $75,000.

Following the 10th and final race at Arlington Park on Saturday, the Arlington Park tote board, located in the infield, caught fire. All of the horses from the last race were off the racetrack and most of the patrons had left the building when smoke was detected by a security officer in the winner's circle at approximately 5:45 p.m. There was no evacuation and there were no injuries.

Plagued by bad weather and short fields during the first month of its season, Arlington Park lost ground to racetracks in other states where purses are sweetened by slot machine revenue, Arlington president Cliff Goodrich told the Illinois Racing Board June 10.

Apprentice jockey Cruz Contreras, the leading jockey at Arlington Park, was taken by ambulance to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights following a two-horse spill in the second race Monday at the suburban Chicago racetrack.

The horses return to Arlington Park April 26, when the track opens its barn area at 8:00 a.m. Several outfits are expected to arrive on Monday, the first day the track's barn area is available for stabling.

Richard Nip's Everyday Angel, an impressive winner in her last trip to the post, and Darley's Zosima, two for three in her brief career, head a field of 11 2-year-old fillies entered in the $100,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie (gr. III) on Saturday's closing day card at Arlington Park.

Gary Stevens hasn't ridden at Arlington Park since he was injured at the finish of the Aug. 17 Arlington Million (gr. IT). He is scheduled to return to Chicago Saturday to ride Hoh Buzzard in Saturday's grade III Pucker Up Stakes.

Select Stable's Take Charge Lady, one of the headline attractions in this year's older filly and mare division, is coming to Arlington Park as the starring individual in Monday's grade III Arlington Matron Handicap

Gary Stevens' voice was weak in a teleconference held Wednesday, but his words were strong. He plans on returning to the saddle after he recovers from injuries suffered Saturday when he was thrown from Storming Home.

Arlington Park has asked the Illinois Racing Board for approval to open its 2004 season April 28, two weeks ahead of the track's traditional Mother's Day opener. If granted, the request would take the Kentucky Derby simulcast rights away from National Jockey Club, which hosted Derby Day this year during its spring meet at Hawthorne Race Course.

Bright Valour, adjudged winner of the 2000 Hanshin Cup and the outright victor the following year, is prominent among nine horses entered in the 2003 edition of the $100,000 Hanshin Cup at one mile on Sunday at Arlington Park.

Good Day Too and European arrive at Arlington for this weekend's Arlington Classic (gr. II). Herculated, Lismore Knight are among the probables for the race. Scottago is still a possible for the $175,000 race.

Arlington Park has been authorized to distribute funds from Breeders' Cup Ultra Pick 6 wagers to the customers who correctly selected five of six winners. There are 78 valid winning tickets each worth almost $44,000.

On March 29 Arlington Park will serve North and South America as the simulcast host for the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race and the first of the 14-part International World Series Racing Championship.

Twenty-nine minutes before the first Breeders' Cup race today at Arlington, the track condition was upgraded to fast. It began the day as muddy, quickly was switched to good, and then announced as fast.

Sometimes, even horses that want to run long mature early. Such is the case with Tom Durant's Most Feared, who trainer Ronny Werner will send out Saturday in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).

Three trainers will make their first starts in a Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championship when the gates open for the Distaff (gr. I). But none of them feel the weight of the championship because they have so much of their confidence in their horses.

Top Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien gave the media more time than usual Thursday morning at Arlington, talking for nearly 20 minutes outside the quarantine barn. O'Brien will saddle seven horses Saturday in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.